Which - to me - is a good thing.

Do not know what downvotes are.

// image title: a lemmy post which shows a multiple of comments in regards to its upvotes/downvotes

  • JubilantJaguar@lemmy.worldEnglish
    53·
    4 months ago

    Yeah I know that I’m courting downvotes here but that doesn’t disprove my argument.

    My argument is that downvoting opinions expressed in a thoughtful way is just uncivil. It degrades the atmosphere. It causes the less thick-skinned to shut up, to self-censor, to leave. The inevitable result will be less civil conversation, less participants, and - to caricature it a bit - just a bunch of guys shouting and snarking and sniping and generally “not giving a shit”.

    And let’s be honest, you probably are a guy. I am too BTW.

    • medgremlin@midwest.socialEnglish
      3·
      4 months ago

      Personally, I use downvotes to say “I disagree with this and/or it is a stupid/bad/bigoted/etc take, but I do not wish to spend the time and effort to respond and get dragged into a text-based mudfight with someone who is unlikely to speak to me politely, no matter how polite I try to be in my rebuttal.”

      I like having a way to say “no, bad, stop that” without having to spend time trying to explain things or engage with someone who I think is beyond convincing anyways.

      • JubilantJaguar@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        4 months ago

        Personally, I use downvotes to say “I disagree with this and/or it is a stupid/bad/bigoted/etc take, but I do not wish to spend the time and effort to respond and get dragged into a text-based mudfight

        So far, a great articulation of what (I guess) most downvoters are thinking.

        with someone who is unlikely to speak to me politely, no matter how polite I try to be in my rebuttal.”

        But I’m not sure you’re being honest with yourself here. Certainly not if you’re talking about my comments, which are always polite if sometimes a bit forthright because I’m a direct kind of person.

        I like having a way to say “no, bad, stop that”

        Nicely put, again. But then: why should your antagonist “stop that”? They should shut up just because you disagree with them?

        We come back to the crucial element: civility. If one believes in free speech, and the right of others to have their own opinions and to have a voice, I still see absolutely justification for downvoting a thoughtfully expressed opinion.

        I don’t agree with you here but I respect your right to have an opinion and I would never think of downvoting you for it. If that comes across as sanctimonious, so be it. I prefer to see it as just coherent with values. Which I’m sure you share, by the way.